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Historic Towns & Picturesque Villages

Brook Cottage, Kedington, Suffolk

Kedington

in the county of Suffolk

Pictures of Wicken

in the county of Cambridgeshire

About Wicken

Once upon a time, long before the Romans invaded Britain there were over 2,500 square miles of Fens. Now, the last of the great natural fenland in East Anglia is to be found beside the village of Wicken, where in total it covers little more 600 acres of peaty, water-logged ground. Apart from being the last of the fens, it is also England's oldest nature reserve.

Wicken Fen provides a wealth of interest for both experienced and budding naturalists, it is a treasureland of sedges, reeds and many other marsh plants, with many thousands of insects and birds, all of which has been cared for by the National Trust which has maintained the fen since the end of the 19th-century. The draining of the fens can be traced back to the 13th-century and from the surrounding peatland, Wicken stands out like an island. Water levels are kept high by the use of a windpump activating in the reverse for which it was intended-draining the land. Nature trails wander around the reserve and there are hides for watching the birds.

The Fen Cottage and Garden at 5, Lode Lane, Wicken, shows a 'real life' portrayal of what life was like in the area during the 1930's when it was lived in by mother and son, Reggie and Alice Butcher. Made of traditional local materials, this lovely old building has a lean-to kitchen and is surrounded by a delightful cottage-style garden. Interestingly, the Butchers lived at the cottage from 1924 to 1972.

Situated at the end of Lode Lane, the village has scattered houses set around village greens. Spinney Abbey, the home of Henry, the fourth son of Oliver Cromwell is close-by and in Wicken itself there is a lovely old church, a pub and a farm shop.

The open countryside surrounding Wicken is rich and varied, windmills can be seen along with pretty cottages, ancient farmhouses and historic churches. Teeming with wildlife, Wicken makes an ideal place for a lovely family day out, and if you want to enjoy a little more of the area, why not visit Anglesey House at Lode, close to the River Cam.

Recommended towns & villages near Wicken

Ely Cathedral

Ely (160 Pictures) a Historic City in the county of Cambridgeshire

(6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction N of Wicken)

The early life of Ely began with a monastry and town situated on an island in the midst of a vast expanse of marshland in the middle of the Fens...

Village sign

Mildenhall (5 Pictures) in the county of Suffolk

(9.2 miles, 14.8 km, direction E of Wicken)

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St Bene't's Church, Cambridge

Cambridge (438 Pictures) a Historic City in the county of Cambridgeshire

(10.4 miles, 16.7 km, direction SW of Wicken)

Cambridge has an abundance of magnificent buildings, and these together with riverside walks, wonderful museums and quaint old streets...

Brook Cottage, Kedington, Suffolk

Kedington (8 Pictures) in the county of Suffolk

(17.3 miles, 27.9 km, direction SE of Wicken)

The Stour Valley footpath leads into Kedington which has several eye catching focal points, including a pretty arched bridge spanning the river and a lovely 18th-century watermill...

Bury St Edmunds, ruins of the old Abbey

Bury St Edmunds (97 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of Suffolk

(18.5 miles, 29.8 km, direction E of Wicken)

Bury St Edmunds, a charming market town in Suffolk, England, exudes a rich history dating back to the medieval times. With a magnificent cathedral, ancient abbey ruins, and picturesque gardens, this town captivates visitors with its beautiful architecture and quaint streets...

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Nearby attractions..

A man and his dogs

Anglesey Abbey (49 Pictures)

(5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction SW)

This attractive house was formerly a priory of Augustinian canons, founded around 1135. It's name does not relate to the island.....

Ely Cathedral, Ely, Cambridgeshire

Ely Cathedral (142 Pictures)

(6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction N)

Sitting majestically above the River Ouse, Ely cathedral presents an awesome sight with its towers sweeping 217 feet towards an.....

Newmarket Racecourse 2003

Newmarket Racecourse (4 Pictures)

(6.1 miles, 9.8 km, direction SE)

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Oliver Cromwell's house at Ely, Cambridgeshire

Oliver Cromwell's House (4 Pictures)

(6.2 miles, 10.0 km, direction N)

Oliver Cromwell (1599-1658) was Lord Protector of England from 1653 until 1658. For the years spanning 1636 to 1647 Cromwell and.....

University Botanic Gardens, Cambridge

University Botanic Gardens (11 Pictures)

(11.0 miles, 17.7 km, direction SW)

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Old Postcard of The American Cemetary, Nr Cambridge

Cambridge American Military Cemetery & Memorial (30 Pictures)

(12.6 miles, 20.3 km, direction SW)

Watched over by a fluttering Stars and Stripes the American Military Cemetery at Madingley in Cambridge is the only one of its.....

Brandon Country Park, Brandon, Suffolk.

Brandon Country Park (2 Pictures)

(15.7 miles, 25.3 km, direction NE)

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